Holiday Sharing Time!!!

December is a month of celebrations. Our classmates celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. I am sure each of us have special family traditions, food and fun activities. Please share some of your favorite holiday customs with us!  Also share if you are going anywhere special over the holidays!!! Please write three to four sentences and check for capitalization and periods.

The Candy Cane Mystery!!!

 

Someone stole the stripes from all of the candy canes!!! But why would they do that? This is a mystery!!!  So confusing!!!  Please write 4 to 6 complete sentences on your theory of why someone would steal the stripes.  Proofread for capital letters and periods.  Be creative; but please don't be silly!!! You need to have a realistic answer!  The best and most realistic response will be rewarded a delicious candy cane!!!

Science Test!!!

Monday is your first science test, which is mainly on nutrition and a little bit on the metric system.  I know that you are already studying, and I would love to hear four to five fact or interesting things that you have learned during this unit.  Please share in four to five complete sentences.  Be sure to use the correct punctuation and capitalization. 

Thanksgiving Fun!!!

 

 

 

Thanksgiving is just a week away. Many of us will spend time with family and friends. Some of us are even traveling! This holiday gives us time to think about what we are grateful for. 

Please share some of the people and traditions that you and your family do during this wonderful holiday! What are your turkey day plans? Write at lease 3 - 4 sentences please. Please check your periods and capitalization!  Gobble, gobble!

 

 

Awesome Book Fair!!!

 We just had an OUT OF THIS WORLD Book Fair! Each of you had the opportunity to buy books that interested you, and I loved seeing what you were drawn too. Write 4 complete sentences sharing with us about some of the books you bought at Book Fair. It can be books you have started reading, or some you are excited to read in the future! If you have started reading the book, tell us a little about the book!!!  Happy reading!!!

 

November.... A Month to be Thankful!!!

November is a great month to reflect on your life and show GRATITUDE. We also had a chance to watch a motivational presentation in our assembly a few weeks ago about being grateful.

What are you grateful for? It can be big or small. Write four well-written sentences describing what you are thankful for. I'll start...

Author Visits Take Two!!!

 We have had the privilege of meeting and listening to two fantastic authors!!!  Katherine Applegate is a Newbery Award winner for The One and Only Ivan and Laura Vaccaro Seeger is a 2- time Caldecott Honor Winner for Green and First the Egg!!!  Write about two things that you learned, thought was interesting, or stood out in your mind from each author.  Please make sure you write with complete sentences and use the correct punctuation!

The Wolf Girls: An Unsolved Mystery from History!!!

Were there really wolf girls?  Were two girls ages 2 and 8 really raised by wolves?  This is a true story, sort of.  The two girls were brought to an orphanage in India in 1920.  They could not speak.  They ran around on all fours and ate raw meat.  Joseph Singh, the person who brought the girls to the orphanage, said he found the girls in a wolf den.  We have only Mr. Singh's journal as evidence that the girls were found in a wolf den.  Some people who saw the girls said they acted like animals, but that's not really proof that the girls were raised by wolves.  Did Mr. Singh make it all up?  Were the girls really raised by wolves?  Did they not speak because they had a mental or physical problem?  Or were they just abandoned by their family and raised by a kind man?  Those are the four most popular theories given.  Are any of them right?  Nobody knows for sure.  It is a mystery still waiting to be solved. Which theory do you like best or do you have your own theory of what happened to the wolf girls of Midnapore, India?  Please share your theory with us in three to four well written sentences.  Be sure to tell us why you believe in that theory. 

Texas Native Americans!!!

We have recently started our Texas Native American Unit.  Texas was home to thousands of American Indians.  The lives of the early Native Americans were all very different.  Each tribe had its own way of life, and whether they became farmers, hunters. or fishermen depended on their environment.  They also varied greatly in how they looked, what they wore, what they ate, and how they lived.  Introduce us to your tribe and tell us three to five interesting facts you have learned about your tribe!!!  Spark our interest!!!  Please write with correct grammar and punctuation!!!

Math is Everywhere!!!

 Look around...we see and use math everywhere and every day!!!  We see and use math at the grocery store, on TV, looking out the window of a car, or at home. We use math adding scores when playing sports, paying money when  shopping, telling time, measuring for cooking, and doing so many other things! Write three or more sentences sharing how YOU see and  use math in your real life. Remember - use complete sentences and proper punctuation!  I am excited to see how you see and use math every day!!!

Native American Indians

We had a great time today "viewing to learn!"  Please tell at least four new things you learned about Native Americans.  If you need or want to look at more videos, don't forget there is a hot link on the left!  Have fun learning!!!  Tomorrow we will be choosing our Texas Native American Tribes!!!

One and Only Ivan

 

 

We are reading The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. The main character, Ivan, is a gorilla who faces many struggles. Although he has friends at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall, he still feels alone. He gets tired and lonely in his domain. What personal connections do you have with Ivan? Tell about a time you have struggled or felt alone like Ivan. Has a special friend ever helped you? Please respond in complete 3 to 4 sentences with correct punctuation!   

 

Pet Peeves!!!

We all have "pet peeves" or things that really bug and annoy us.  A pet peeve is when someone, something, or an action is done that really irritates you.  Pet Peeves can be different for everybody.  My major pet peeve is when people constantly interrupt me or blurt out while I am talking.  That bothers me because first it is rude and second it interrupts my train of thought.  So get on your soapbox and tell us your pet peeve and why it annoys you.  Write about five to seven complete sentences using the correct capitalization and punctuation. 

Welcome to third grade!!! I am so happy that you all are in my class! I am really looking forward to a great year!!! We are in our second week of 3rd Grade! What are some of the biggest differences between second and third grade? What are some of your goals for this school year? What do you like best about third grade? Please respond using correct capitalization and punctuation.

Harlem Shake O'Connell Style

Well, I promised you we would do the Harlem Shake and we did!!!  How fun!!! We have had a great year, and I am going to miss each and everyone of you!!!  Be sure to have a fantastically fun summer that is safe!!!  Read and dance a lot!!! What do you all think of the Harlem Shake?

Ideas for Step-up Day

I can hardly believe that we just have a precious few days of school left!

Please share some of your thoughts about third grade in our classroom. What are your favorite times of the day? Do you especially like our Thirty Glorious Minutes of Independent Reading? Why? Do you look forward to relaxing on a bean bag and listening to a great chapter book during Read Aloud? How about math groups? Blogging? Voice thread? Podcasting? Glogster?  Parties?  What else?

Please help me will some ideas to share with our rising third graders on Step Up Day! I am planning on sharing this blog post with the future third graders!  Write four to five sentences to the rising third graders of what they have to look forward to next year in third grade!

Mia and Sam during math groups!!!

Julia and Lillian playing cards!!!

What do you wonder about?

Please look on the right side of the blog where the hotlinks are and look at the Wonderopolis.  First make a comment about what you think of the question they ask you, and then read about it from the actual Wonderopolis site.  You will undoubtedly learn something new and you will have fun at the same time!!!

Time to Celebrate!!!

Well, summer is here in seven and a half school days!!!  We have had a great year together!  I will miss you, but I know that you will be right down the hall!!!  What are some of your best memories and accomplishments this year?  Be serious!  Our quadblogging friends, please share with us the same things.  What are your highlights of 2012 - 2013?  I also want you to write about what you are looking forward to doing this summer.  Don't forget to include your goals for the summer like your summer reading.  Please write four to five good sentences.  Be sure to proofread what you wrote!!!  Happy Blogging!!!

Houston Heritage Society

 

The Old Place built in 1823

We had a wonderful day today at

St. John Church built in 1823

the Houston Heritage Society! We toured some historical buildings of downtown Houston, and we had hands-on experiences with artifacts from the past! Write 4 to 5 complete sentences reflecting on your favorite parts of the field trip. What did you enjoy most? What did you learn? What are the parts of the day you will never forget?  Be serious about what you learned.  

The beautiful Julia Ideson Library!  The oldest library in Houston!!!

Pioneer Hour Reflections

I am so proud of each of you! Your journals, wiki, podcast, and Voice Thread were thoughtful, historically accurate and VERY entertaining!  You worked very hard today, and it showed in front of your parents!!!  Please write four or more sentences about Pioneer Hour today. Which project were you the most proud to share? What was the best compliment you received? What did you think about how we set things up?  Be thoughtful with your answers!!! Be sure to watch the four videos below and comment on them as well!!! 

Life in Houston at the Kinkaid School!!!

We are already having fun quadblogging with our new friends from England, Scotland, and Spain!!!  We are going to tell you a little bit about our school The Kinkaid School and our about our big city, Houston, Texas!!! Please ask any questions that we can answer as well!  We are excited to learn about your country and school too!!! 

Making Butter for Pioneer Hour!!!

Shake Shake Shake!!!

Angus, You need to take a breath!!!

That was really fun making butter like the pioneers did in the mid 1800's.  What was your favorite part of making butter.  Write 3 to 4 complete sentences about making butter and also include the second way the pioneers made butter while traveling in their wagons.  Also write about what you looking forward to at Pioneer Hour?

                                                            

Courage to do the Right Thing!!!

                                             

In assembly last Friday, Mrs. Babine talked about courage.
She said that one way to define courage is the ability to do something difficult even if you are afraid.

Please share a time when you have had the courage to:

• tell the truth the first time you are asked/admit a mistake
• stand up for a friend
• stand up for yourself

How did you feel when your were admitting to making a mistake. Were you nervous? Were you sorry for what you did? Has anyone ever stood up for you in a tough situation? Make sure to write at least five good sentences. 

                                               

Science Test

Make Mrs. Sayuk and myself proud! Teach me some information about circuits and electricity. Impress me with your knowledge.  Write at least six well written sentences.  Use your notes if you need to!!!  Have fun!!!

Are you Adventurous?

The year is 1845. The President is John Polk and you are a citizen in the Eastern region of the United States. You have never been a landowner before. You hear people talking about Manifest Destiny and moving west. Many Americans believe it was their "manifest destiny" to spread over what we now call the United States from sea to shining sea. Those willing to travel West could claim land and develop it. Will you be a pioneer and travel the Oregon Trail for 6 months/ 2,000 miles to claim your land and open space? Or, will you choose to stay put in the crowed east. What are your reasons for leaving on the trail or staying in your current home? Write at least 5 to 6 good sentences. 

Oregon Bound!!!

 As you are planning your family and getting ready to head west to Oregon, what are some good things that could happen to your family and what are some bad things that could happen to your family.  Please be realistic and do not get silly. Write in complete sentences at least three bad things that could happen and write at least three good things that could happen on the 2,000 mile trail.  Be sure to tell why they are good or bad.  I do not just want a list!!!